Author's Note: Thanks so much for checking out this fic! This is one of my first major attempts at writing Dramione, and while I believe my writing style and characterization have improved since this original publishing, I sincerely hope you enjoy this story. I'd also really appreciate if you'd share your thoughts with me along the way, regardless of when you're reading. Comments always make my day, even long after the story is published :) Thanks again for reading xx

**Updated April 16th, 2020** This fic has been updated to fix grammar mistakes and typos, but all aspects of the plot remain mostly unaltered. An additional scene was added to Chapter 24, and the epilogue was moved to a separate chapter (Chapter 25) and also expanded.

"Get your bushy hair over here!" Ginny shouted down the hall.

Hermione let out an aggravated groan as she stomped down the hallway to the flat that Ginny was forcing her to go to. This most certainly was not how she had planned to spend her Friday night. After another stressful week at the Ministry, she had hoped to hang up her robes and nuzzle in her armchair next to Crookshanks, finally finding time to read her book again.

But all that had vanished when Ginny had shared the news with her.

"Can't we just celebrate tomorrow?" Hermione whined, feeling the warmth of her own flat's fireplace calling her name.

Ginny came to a halt and spun around, giving Hermione a sharp glare. "This is my first job since playing for the Harpies, so I believe I have the right to dictate when we celebrate!"

Hermione was instantly tugged from her position as Ginny latched onto her wrist, rendering Hermione's escape virtually impossible. The redhead dragged her down the hall as they loomed closer to their destination.

"Are you at least going to tell me whose flat this is?" Hermione asked, sending one final prayer to Merlin that it wasn't who she suspected.

"Daphne Greengrass," Ginny casually responded, tightening her hold around Hermione's wrist for good measure.

She wrinkled her nose at the confirmation of her fears. During her ritual morning reading of the Daily Prophet, Hermione had noticed that the old Slytherin student now wrote for the paper, so it was only logical that Daphne had been the one to extend a hand of friendship to her new compatriot. Hermione had absolutely no issue with that part — it was the prospect of who else might be in tow that had her dreading what laid within the flat.

Ginny halted in front of the second to last door on the right and finally released her grip. Her imprint remained red on Hermione's skin despite the brunette's attempt to placate the slight burn.

"Next time, don't hold onto me like the handle of your broom," Hermione moped.

She could hear Ginny's slight amusement at Hermione's latest complaint. "Old habit. Now a quill's the only thing my fingers will be wrapped around. Well, that and Harry's-"

"I beg you not to finish that statement!" Her shoulders quivered as her imagination completed the thought she so desperately didn't want to envision. "He's like my brother."

"And back when you were with Ron, I had to hear about my actual brother!"

"Oh, don't remind me," Hermione faintly lamented. "Now knock on this door already, and let's get this over with."

They didn't have to wait long for the door to swing open, exposing the older, but still familiar face of Daphne Greengrass. The new colleagues hugged, blocking Hermione from fully entering the flat.

Hermione craned her neck to check who else was already in attendance and determine if she needed to make one final effort to bolt. There were around fifteen or so other witches and wizards of various ages mingling around the open living and kitchen space, but thankfully, she didn't recognize a single one of them. Off in the corner were a few wizards who were seeing who could conjure the biggest bubble from the surface of their drink. Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes at the childish game that the boys should have outgrown before they even stepped foot into Hogwarts, but at least that was the most offensive thing about them.

The slightly increased sound of the hostess's voice redirected her attention back to the witches next to her.

"As for you, Hermione Granger," Daphne said with a strum of intrigue. "I must admit that I did not expect Ginny to successfully guilt trip you into this. And even without that redheaded boyfriend of yours!"

Ginny and Hermione exchanged an uneasy glance with one another. It had been nearly a year since her and Ron's final break up, but they saw each other so frequently, most people just assumed they were still together. Their relationship status wasn't something she liked to discuss, especially with people she didn't consider her close friends. It wasn't any of their business what went on in her personal life.

The truth was that she did love Ron - just only as a friend. Admittedly, she had relapsed back to him a few times since their breakup, but that honestly meant nothing. Being a member of the trio that had defeated the reign of the Dark Lord had come with some massive caveats, especially when it came to finding someone who didn't seek her for fame. Casual hookups were hardly an option, and even Hermione Granger had needs that books in a library couldn't resolve.

A stern jab in the gut reminded Hermione that she had taken too long to respond.

"Ex-boyfriend," she hastily corrected.

Daphne seemed curious to pry for more details, but Hermione really didn't want to get into it. Thankfully, Daphne kept her questions to herself.

"Well I won't keep you two standing out there!" the hostess said, motioning them inside. "Come in and get a drink!"

Daphne led them to the kitchen but wandered off as soon as there was another knock on the door. A wide range of drink options was laid out on the counter, but none of it seemed appealing to Hermione. Since the war, most witches and wizards had developed enough common sense to include at least a few Muggle chaser options, but it appeared as if that concept had yet to reach certain segments of the wizarding population. Probably some sort of stubbornness to stick to at least a few traditions.

Resigning herself to the fact that there wasn't going to be any Diet Coke, Hermione poured herself a glass of wine, deeming it the safest choice. Wine wasn't as alcoholic as the other options, and it would appease Ginny's insistence that she drank tonight while still being palatable.

She brought a quick sip to her lips and let the cold drink travel down her throat. Hermione took another sip, and then another, until her cup was already half-empty.

Ginny eyed her friend's glass as she poured herself a decent serving of firewhisky. "What happened to the Hermione that wasn't going to drink tonight?" she teased. "And you better not say that the mention of Ron got you in a funk!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Please. He's hundreds of miles away and the least of my concerns. I figured I might as well join in some of the festivities if I'm here anyway."

She probably wouldn't have been as opposed to the party if Ron and Harry had been able to join them. At least then she wouldn't have to worry about who she would talk to once Ginny inevitably started socializing with her new coworker. But Ron was off on a Ministry training program in Egypt, and Harry wouldn't be back from his Auror mission until Monday, thus making Hermione the entire celebration crew.

But there was no use sulking about it any further. The evening was about Ginny, so Hermione better had to get out of her so-called "funk" and get to the celebrating. Besides, what's the worst that could happen?

"To Ginny," she announced, raising her glass in the air. "May she bring reputable writing back to the Daily Prophet."

Ginny beamed at Hermione's newfound enthusiasm. "That's more like it! Cheers to that!"

The young women collided their plastic cups, and both downed the rest of their drinks. With her glass only containing wine, Hermione quite enjoyed the taste, but Ginny's eyes crinkled shut and her lips pursed together at the aftermath of the straight liquor. Her body rattled with a firm shake, and her contorted face slowly returned to normal.

"That's some potent stuff," Ginny declared pointing to the bottle of firewhisky. Her finger soon changed its trajectory and shifted so that it was now directed at Hermione. "But you know, all this Ron talk got me thinking," Ginny shared with a smirk. "When's the last time you had a decent shag?"

Hermione's mouth dropped at the unexpected question. "Ginny!" she cried in a hushed whisper.

"And my brother doesn't count!"

Ginny raised an eyebrow, awaiting an answer for a solid minute before Hermione finally caved. They both very well knew that Ginny wouldn't let her leave the kitchen until she responded.

"Other than Ron?" She looked up at the ceiling, racking her brain for the last new partner, but it wasn't easy. "Well, there was that one time back in 2002 when Ron and I took that break–"

"That was two years ago!" Ginny interrupted. "You mean to tell me that you haven't been with anyone new since you two broke up?"

Hermione felt her cheeks turn slightly hot. That typically didn't happen until at least a few more drinks in, so, unfortunately, she couldn't blame it on the alcohol. "No one that I've slept with," Hermione defended. She could recall a few sloppy kisses after failed dates and a snog session or two, but no one had quite caught her fancy in the past year - hence the Ron relapses.

"Oh, well, that just won't do," Ginny remarked with her sly smirk. She poured herself another glass of the strong firewhisky, followed by an equal amount into Hermione's. "I know exactly what we're doing tonight."

Hermione rolled her eyes again. "We'll see about that."

Ginny forced their glasses into another cheers, but before either one of them took a sip, they became distracted by the commotion coming from the entryway. Daphne had just released a high-pitched squeal, wrapping her arms around the latest party guest. As she pulled away, Hermione instantly recognised the white blond hair. One look at him, and her greatest fear of the evening was realised.

She brought the recently filled glass to her lips and downed it.

Ginny stared at Hermione curiously, then followed her gaze to see Draco Malfoy. Without hesitation, she refilled Hermione's glass.

"We're gonna need a lot more of this if we're gonna survive this party."